N.C. reaction to immigration reform plan mixed

By The Associated Press

Published: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 12:44 PM.

RALEIGH - North Carolinians are divided over the sweeping reform of immigration laws in the United States.

While supporters in the Tar Heel state say the proposal pitched by senators Monday is a step in the right direction, at least one opponent is upset by a lack of public discussion before the proposal was announced.

"We object to their conducting their negotiations to this (proposal) in secret meetings," said William Gheen, president of the Raleigh-based Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee.

Gheen said he was not surprised by Monday's announcement, but said the four key points outlined in the proposal are "damaging" to current American workers, taxpayers, voters and students. He thinks the proposal is similar to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, gives amnesty to illegal immigrants and relies on "enforcement of policies tomorrow."

Those in North Carolina who support the proposal also voiced concerns about the issues it leaves unsettled.

Angeline Echeverria, executive director of El Pueblo in Raleigh, said she wants to know how the proposal would affect people who already have been detained by federal immigration officials. Many families have been broken by immigration laws, she said, and the proposal does not address that.

Kate Woomer-Deters, a lawyer who works with the North Carolina Justice Center, said the proposal creates a new immigration status for eligible undocumented immigrants but puts them in "legal limbo." The status would fast-track them to proper citizenship, but put them behind others already in line for it - and the wait is about 20 years, she said.

Woomer-Deters also is worried about the plan to grant special consideration to people who obtain an advanced degree in science, math, technology or engineering from an American university.

That could drive a wedge between the haves and the have-nots of the illegal immigrant population, she said.

"We're advocates for the low-income folks," Woomer-Deters said, adding that she prefers a path to citizenship that is equal for all illegal immigrants.

Echeverria said she was glad to see immigration reform back in the national spotlight but thinks the language used in Monday's proposal does not address how the reforms would or could affect families.

RALEIGH - North Carolinians are divided over the sweeping reform of immigration laws in the United States.

While supporters in the Tar Heel state say the proposal pitched by senators Monday is a step in the right direction, at least one opponent is upset by a lack of public discussion before the proposal was announced.

"We object to their conducting their negotiations to this (proposal) in secret meetings," said William Gheen, president of the Raleigh-based Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee.

Gheen said he was not surprised by Monday's announcement, but said the four key points outlined in the proposal are "damaging" to current American workers, taxpayers, voters and students. He thinks the proposal is similar to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, gives amnesty to illegal immigrants and relies on "enforcement of policies tomorrow."

Those in North Carolina who support the proposal also voiced concerns about the issues it leaves unsettled.

Angeline Echeverria, executive director of El Pueblo in Raleigh, said she wants to know how the proposal would affect people who already have been detained by federal immigration officials. Many families have been broken by immigration laws, she said, and the proposal does not address that.

Kate Woomer-Deters, a lawyer who works with the North Carolina Justice Center, said the proposal creates a new immigration status for eligible undocumented immigrants but puts them in "legal limbo." The status would fast-track them to proper citizenship, but put them behind others already in line for it - and the wait is about 20 years, she said.

Woomer-Deters also is worried about the plan to grant special consideration to people who obtain an advanced degree in science, math, technology or engineering from an American university.

That could drive a wedge between the haves and the have-nots of the illegal immigrant population, she said.

"We're advocates for the low-income folks," Woomer-Deters said, adding that she prefers a path to citizenship that is equal for all illegal immigrants.

Echeverria said she was glad to see immigration reform back in the national spotlight but thinks the language used in Monday's proposal does not address how the reforms would or could affect families.